Mundane Fantasy

[j_cheney]

Oh, dear.

So, I'm reading the work of four other writers for an upcoming workshop. I was told that I was being put in the group for 'traditional fantasies', but I'm beginning to think that I got put in the wrong one.

I'm certainly not claiming that the other writers aren't good. They're fine. That's not my worry.

Instead, it's more as if they're all heading out to lunch at the "ReUnion Tower" for their Fantasy meal, whereas I eat at "Soup R Salad". Possibly "Taco Bell".

Here's what I mean. I don't have a single demon in my stuff, nor a wizard, necromancer, elementalist, or any undead. I don't have gods popping by. I don't have....well, that's the point. I don't have.

What I do have is one guy who can send his spirit out-of-body to watch others. I've got a few unreliable and half-insane seers. I've got a (very limited) shapeshifter. They all do their best to conceal their abilities, and they certainly don't want anything questionable to get into the newspapers. They try to live normal lives, for the most part. They are MUNDANE (as much as they can be).

I have written a piece or two of Mundane SF. I'm wondering if I belong in the sub-genre called Mundane Fantasy.

Comments

[incandragon.livejournal.com]

Well, you can eat at my table, then. ;-)

BTW, did you notice that SFWA has updated its "Professional Markets" list?

[dotar-sojat.livejournal.com]

They are Dungeons and Dragons. You are World of Darkness.

They will see your dice-pool and there will be great fear and trembling.

[stinabat.livejournal.com]

i think the technical term is "urban fantasy" but you can stick with mundane if you want. it's the same reason patrice calls my stuff "urban fantasy in an 18th century setting." how else are you going to catagorize it?

?

[namelessarchon.livejournal.com]

Ok, I cetainly get where you are coming from J, and you know I love your stuff [guns and all].

Wizards, undead, neros, whatever, it is all magic rich fantasy, and that just isn't where you are at. We have a huge genre, and that is a great thing.

What you can't get into has to be 'McWriting', topics that 'build on Tolkien's pipe' as I like to say. If you have an 'elf' you had better be original about it.

What you are writing takes talent, because there is some thought and reality in the fantasy.

'Tables' are tough, especially with publishers trying to pigeon-hole you.

We just have to believe in what we create, and with your reviews you should really be convinced that you are on to something.

[kara-gnome.livejournal.com]

It could go either way, regarding your group lunch :)

And it's also likely, imo, that the other writers will be surprised at how clever and wonderful and different your story is. Of those things, different is, I think, the best. :)